Ahhh Spring...Please don't go!!

It's been an eventful few weeks in Farm country. There are plenty of things to keep you busy... Springtime is typically no exception, although it seems to rain every time you turn around. There's been enough rain that the majority of spring planting is delayed. The pattern is a couple days of precipitation followed by a day or two of sun. When the ground is close to where it needs to be…. along comes another rain to postpone action once again.
The Missouri Ag Statistics Service reported last Monday that 4% of the Missouri corn crop was planted… the report that came out this afternoon?... it's up to a whoppin 7% complete. That means a few folks have made it to the field, but the majority of that is in the Bootheel. Typically for this time of year 42% of the states corn crop is in the ground. We've started our spring soil temps now so we'll keep our fingers crossed that will bring along positive spring planting vibes. Good. Luck!!
Speaking of spring planting, I personally don't have any fields to take care of, but I do have a couple small flower beds in need of a little color. With the sunny/cold pattern followed by the rain/frost/sunshine pattern, there hasn’t been much outdoor activity for me. During Easter I made it home to visit mom for the weekend, and we were very productive. We did a little flower shopping for the flower beds then did a little plant digging for the same reason. Mom has a nice selection of Iris' and thought she would share a few with me. We spent the afternoon digging up and separating a few bulbs (by few I mean store bags full). Later we made the trek to the "back 40" to find the horses. My gelding has the tendency to enjoy the lush Spring grass a little more than he should so we brought them up for some dry lot time, though it wasn't easy. The neighbors mare has been with them for a while and… to be honest, she's a little to friendly. It's handy if you want to catch her, but geezzz girl, back off, give me some space… get outta my way!
It took some work because King was torn between the two mares… "Who do I follow? Mom or trouble maker.... mom or trouble maker".... In horse speak I'm sure he doesn't refer to either of them like that but you get the picture. As he stood in the middle of the pasture I could see his dilemma, he called out to one, then turned to call out to the other. Usually mom (my mare Ginger who I was riding), wins the battle hands down, but this year the fella was torn. After making a few adjustments to our plans, and the neighbor showing up to help on his 4-wheeler, everyone was where they were supposed to be. By the way, I'll take this opportunity to brag up Ginger. Sure, I suppose she's no spring chicken, but when your riding a horse who hasn't been around 4-wheelers and she still does what you need her to do... you've got yourself a good one.
By the end of the adventure, my rear was dirty from bareback riding, my legs were a little wobbly from the chase and the horses, well I sure they would have preferred to have been left alone. However no complaints here. Any day horseback riding, pain or no pain, means a great day has been had... by me at least.